Wrench for use with an airplane propeller



y 1953 J. F. SWEENEY ETAL 2,638,026

WRENCH FOR USE WITH AN AIRPLANE PROPELLER Original Filed May 9. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. JOHN F. swEENEY EDWARD T. ABLE By lRW'lN IA. MAC KAY FIG. 2 yw May 12 1953 J. F. 'swEfi-NEY E! AL 2,638,026 WRENCH FOR USE. WITH ANDAIRPLANE PROPELLER Original Filed May 9. 1949 4: Sheets-Sheet 2 CONVENTIONAL PONER MEANS INVENITOR.

JOHN F. SWEENEY EDWARD T. ABLE IRWIN A. MAC KAY May 12, 1953 J. F. SWEENEY EI'AL 2,633,026

WRENCH FOR USE WITH AN AIRPLANE PROPELLER Original Filed May 9. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet s 43 43 INVENTOR.

- \N JOHN F. SWEENEY I EDWARD T. ABLE 42 4/ 4/ BY mwm A. MAC KAY FIG. IO

May 12, 1953 J. F. SWEENEY ETAL WRENCH FOR USE WITH AN AIRPLANE PROPELLER Original F'i led May 9. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JOHN F. SWEENEY EDWARD T. ABLE IRWIN A. MAC KAY FIG. l4

Patented May 12, 1953 WRENCH FOR USE WITH AN AIRPLANE PROPELLER John F. Sweeney, Edward T. Able, and Irwin A. MacKay, Denver, 0010., assignors to B. K.

Sweeney Manufacturing Company,

Denver,

(3010., a corporation of Colorado Original application May 9, 1949, Serial No. 92,126. Divided and this application May 31, 1950, Serial No. 165,226

2 Claims. (01'. s1-f-54) This application is a division of our co-pending application Serial No. 92,126 filed May 9, 1949, which has matured into Patent No. 2,602,217, July 8, 1952.

This invention relates to a wrench for use with apparatus for servicing airplane propellers, such servicing apparatus including means for lifting and handling, and for loosening and tightening nuts which retain propellers on their motor shafts.

Airplane propellers require frequent servicing and for this purpose must be removed from their motor shafts, carried .to a work shop, returned to the field or hangar, and replaced on the motor shafts of the planes. Propellers weigh as much as 1000 to 1200 pounds, and due to their shape and weight the servicing and handling present certain difficulties which it is the object of our invention to overcome.

The main object of our invention is to produce a wrench for use with apparatus which is adapted to be securely fastened to a propeller whereby the servicing device and the propeller may be lifted and moved without injury to the propeller.

Another object is to produce servicing mechanism of the character described which is designed to cooperate with a wrench for loosening and tightening the nuts which hold the propeller on its motor shaft, and to serve as anchor means for the wrench, including means for retaining the wrench in operative position on such anchor means. The wrench anchoring means of our invention may be used separately for the purpose of anchoring the wrench, or it may be part of means for lifting and handling the airplane propeller.

By vertical position of the propeller, we mean that the body and blades as a whole are vertically disposed and the axis of the hub extends in a horizontal plane. To support the propeller in such vertical position, the anchor means of the apparatus has its face vertically disposed and at right angles to the axis of the propeller hub.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevationalview of a servicing apparatus, showing the anchor means thereof with its face vertically disposed for attachment to an airplane propeller when the propeller is in vertical position. 7 Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the servicing apparatus shown in Fig. l, on an enlarged scale, showing the anchor means attached to the hub of a propeller, the propeller blades being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the anchor means in horizontal position, as it appears when the propeller to which it has been secured is horizontally disposed and the axis of its hub is in a vertical plane.

Fig. 4 is anelevational view of servicing apparatus, similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing the anchor means with its face horizontally disposed, attached to a propeller hub, with a wrench in position on the anchor means, as the parts appear when the propeller as a whole is horizontally disposed.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, taken in the plane of :the line 55 of Fig. i, but somewhat enlarged.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of anchor means which constitute part of our servicing apparatus.

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the anchor means of Fig. 6, taken in the plane of the line l--l of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of anchor means which constitute part of the servicing apparatus.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same taken in the plane of the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional View of a nut member used with the anchor of Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of another modification of the anchor means. i

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view taken in the plane of the line l2l2 of Fig. 11, and the planes indicated by the line l2l2 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 13 is an end elevational view of one of the two gripping jaws which are part of the anchor means shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

Fig. 14 is an elevaticnal side view of the locking means for preventing relative movement between the pivotally connected parts of the servicing mechanism.

Fig. 15 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane of the line l5-i5 of Fig. 14..

In the drawings, we have shown the preferred embodiment of our apparatus with which the improved wrench is adapted for use, and three different forms of anchor means used therein. These anchor means may be employed separately to function only as anchor means for a wrench when it is desired to work on the nut or nuts which hold the propeller on its shaft, or said anchor means may be part of the handling and lifting mechanism of our apparatus. The essential parts of the preferred form of servicing apparatus are (1) the anchor means which are securely but removably fastened to an airplane propeller and which serve to support and anchor a wrench during that part of the operation when it is necessary to loosen or tighten the nuts which retain the propeller on its motor shaft; (2) specially shaped lift arms rigidly connected to opposite ends br ne. anchormeans and pivotally co'nnectedtoa yoke; (3) 'said yoke ofn'prlsing a-pair of curved arms pivotally connected at one of their ends to said lift arms and connected together at their other ends by a cross piecewhich isadaptecl to be engaged by a crane or othersuita ble 1hanism for lifting the servicing apparatus and attachcd propeller. I 7

Referring first to Figs. -l to inclusive, plane hub is indicated at ID, 'its'centerbore blades (broken away) at I2, airplane motorshart at I3 and a nut for retainin'g 'th'ehub onth'e shaft at H. These are conventional .parts offz'iirplane propellers which vary in form and construction. The servicing apparatus of our invention likewise is varied in constructien to some extent to accornrnoclate itself to different forms of airplane i e ren ffel'm ,f ..ej c

to the different "airas'abodyjcelnmeats the'exller'liubf'cmicenylf e w h me ns o s lift IQ IG, are ada'ptegi'to ie i esi fth j i fi ii p fi h I aces ara'telyffrom the anchor 5 when assembled 2 they are in efiect .asmgl efunit. Eachfof the; elon ated eme-ina e a ling-1e from one eraser "theniernb'er. I,anda'n end I eggtending at anangle from the other end of j i -T ii m n 1 fiatel lh t win a n ap osite to that of tlieend isyas'showhi e. .he arms ,IS are identica but when secured "t I8't '0' site sides of theanchor pe sons i'lii exten'd in J ai darmslfl are substantially parallel mane-1 tare-tweeters theanchor means and hjubtos with respect tofe'ach s m l-2p, g a' aa peq to be enga d r fan; outer plate 145 integral withj asle ve 4 through the holes 25 of the C-arms 20 and are pivotally retained by a bolt 26 which extends through a cap washer 27 into the reduced portion of the lift'arfn end I9.

At the upper ends the 'C-arms 20 are provided with. apertures 28 to receive the ends of the cross piece H which are rigidly connected thereto in anyconvenient manner. For certain purposes these "parts may be made separately but when assembled the anchor means I5, the lift arms I6 and the lifter yoke '28, 2|, are rigidly connected to "her excepting at the connections 23 between ndsI 9 ofth'e lift arms I6 and the lower ends e 'C- 'arnis 20, which afiord pivotal movement betweenthe lift arms I6 and the C-arms 20.

In Figs'fi to 13, inclusive, are shown three difl'erentform's'of anchor means such as referred to heretofore by the numeral I5, and these will be assented now in detail. Each of these forms is adapted to be used separately only as anchoring means 'for 'a wrench or to beconnected to lift l 'arfms fI'G to become part'of th'e'han'dlin'g and 'lifting means-of our servicing apparatus.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the anchor means 'there'shown cornprl'se'an'outer pl'at'e Elan-inner plate "3i, both centrally apertvredand connected toe' ether, thus providing a concentric opening '33 adapted to register'with the bore I I-of the propeller hub I'Ii. Theou'ter plate 38 is provided'with recesses 54 adapted to receive and anchor-parts of ja wrench 3'5. Said plate is designed tofsup- 'bbrt the "wrench in operative position when it is "desired to loosen or "tighten'the nut I 4 on "the "mom shaft I3 "whereby'the propeller-hub is held on the shaft. The outer anchor'plat'e "30 isl pro- 'vided- "with oppositely extended portions which terminate inshoulders 38' provided with recesses Bl. The reces'ses S'I are'axially aligned and arranged to receive the reduced portions of the ends iii of the lift-arms I5 which are retained therein by suitable means as indicated at 38 in Fig.4. The inn'er plate "3] is so called because it con- 'stitutes that face "of the anchor means which contacts the I 'acepf'the' propeller hub whenthe "apparatus is fastened to the hub). Said inner jplatetl is provided with'a pluralityof misses adapted "to receive screws or bolts"whefreby the anchor means is securely "but removably fastened to the faee'o f the 'pr'opeller hub.

fReferririg to the modified form 'of -anchpr means shown inFigs. 8, 9 and 1'0,th'osepar'ts of the: constructionwhidhai'e siinilar to the parts jd'e'scribe'd infconnectionwith Figs. 6 "and 7 have been similarly designated. "This 'form' *of' echstruction 'ispar tieularlyadapted to he mdurgtea on propellers provided with screw threads 1161' engaging apart 'of the anchor means. InWhis embodiment, the inner plate designated or nut"42' has externalscrew threads '43. "Ih'e nut '42 isfshppedonto the inner plate I0" and is secured thereto h men; (not j shown) ""in l the holes 41. "Thethi'e'ads '43 on nuvn engs'ge threads on the airplane pro peller 'hiib.

. InFl'gs.'11, "12 and13,wehave how'n special form of anchor 'nieans "designed v to "propellersfwhich at he; lend theins'l cooperation "with" the forms treat ses-is shown in the other figures just des r "in 't isiini d fic i n .it h 'p' new mi i' H I 4 G'wnith i we in withdrawn.wit pr tti iib 'IU. "Said"'b12.t"l5 has oppositely extendin t o ov .wi hwreaqhseating recesses t1 the ends 'l8 of lifts arms [6, as heretofore de scribed.

The special feature of this anchor device is the arrangement whereby the anchor plate is secured to the propeller blade sockets [2. This feature comprises a pair of extensions 50 on the plate 45 located radially opposite each other or otherwise as required by the location of the propeller blade sockets. The extensions '50 terminate in jaws each comprising a horseshoe shaped body having two pivotally mounted arms 52. Each arm 52 is pivotally connected by a pin or rivet 53 to the horseshoe body, so that the gripping end 511 can swing outwardly away from its mate and thus permit the jaws 5! to be placed over a propeller blade socket. When in position the gripping ends 54 are moved toward each other and a pin 55 is inserted through apertures in the body of the jaw 5| and in the arm 52 as shown in Fig. 13, whereby separation of the gripping ends 54 is prevented.

Preferably the inner surfaces of the arms 52 and gripping ends 54 are lined with rubber belting 56 or other resilient material which prevents them from chafing the blade sockets.

In Figs. 14 and are shown details of the locking mechanism attached to each of the 0- arms of the lifter yoke for cooperation with a part on the adjacent lift arm It for locking the pivotally connected parts of the servicing apparatus together and preventing pivotal movement between them at either limit of their movements. Said lock mechanism comprises a pair of spaced apart, parallel plates 5i cut away to provide a slot 58 open at one end, adapted to receive a pin 59 fixed on the number I? of the lift arm l6. Between the plates 51 is pivotally mounted at 6!! a bell crank lever 5|, one arm of which is hook shaped as indicated at 52. The arm 62 engages the pin 59 on the lift arm when the parts are in locked position. A coiled spring 63 secured to the lever BI and to one of the plates 5'1 retains the parts in locking position. When it is desired to release the latching device 62 from the pin 59, a pull cord 54 attached pivotally connected parts of the apparatus against relative movement when the propeller is in vertical position, but similar locking mechanism may be positioned to function for holding said parts when the propeller is in horizontal position.

Each of the anchor means herein described is securely fastened to the work, and the body of the wrench is securely fastened to the anchor in such position that the wrench socket, anchor aperture and propeller hub are concentrically positioned, and the counter rotative torque of the wrench when in operation is borne by the anchor.

It will be understood that each of the anchor means described herewith is provided with a bore concentric with the bore of the propeller hub, whereby the tool employed to work on nuts on the airplane motor shaft can be inserted through the anchor means and be actuated inside of the propeller hub while the anchor for the tool serves as the connecting means between our servicing apparatus and the propeller. An example of how this construction serves is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, where the wrench 35 is supported on the anchor means [5 and the lat- 'ter is securely fastened to the propeller hub H) by bolts 55. The internal construction of the wrench 35 need not be shown in detail. Any power multiplying wrench mechanism may be used. In the wrench 35, a train of gears is employed to provide the desired gear ratio between the power input shaft 58 and the power output shaft 59. Internal splines in said shaft 69 in this embodiment engage external splines Til on the part ii of the socket 12. The socket I2 is shaped as indicated at 73 to fit the castellated nut 14 which holds the propeller hub If! on its shaft it. A handle it engages the shaft 53 of the wrench for rotating the shaft.

The wrench 55 is held on the anchor means 15 by anchor pins 75, one of which may be selflocking and the other locked with a thumb-screw 75. ll indicates depending pins on the wrench which seat in the recesses 34 or 41 of the anchor means, whereby the wrench is properly positioned on said anchor means.

Operaton.--When an airplane propeller requires servicing, our servicing apparatus is moved into juxtaposition to the propeller by means of a lifting crane or other suitable mechanism which engages the eye 22 of the cross piece 2|. The anchor means i5 is securely fastened to the propeller hub it or to the blade sockets i2 depending on the type of anchor means selected from the three shown in Figs. 6 to 13, inclusive. At this stage of the operation, inner and outer anchor plates such as the plates 30 and 3|, Figs. 6 and S, or the outer plate 45, Fig. 11, will be vertically disposed, with the opening 33 concentric with'the bore of the propeller hub and the axis in a substantially horizontal plane. The members ll of the lift arms It will also extend horizontally while the C-arms remain substantially vertical a shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the shape of the C-arms is such that they do not interfere with the propeller blades even though the end of said arms 20 are pivotally connected to the lift'arms It in an axial line which intersects the center of gravity of the propeller hub regardless of the position of the propeller. The locking means automatically functions to prevent relative movement between the pivotally connected parts, when the propeller has been moved to either vertical or horizontal position.

Next the wrench 35 is mounted on the anchor means 15, and in order to prevent the wrench from falling off the anchor plate, the fastening means 15 and '75 are employed. Then the wrench is manually operated to loosen the nut I4 or other nuts which may hold the propeller on its shaft, and when the propeller is ready to be removed from the shaft the servicing apparatus, as a whole, actuated by a lifting crane (not shown), moves the propeller forwardly off its shaft and clear thereof. The wrench may be removed from the anchor plate before the propeller is moved off its shaft, or it may be left on the anchor plate during the propeller moving operation, as preferred. After the propeller has cleared the shaft, the locking mechanism may be actuated by the pull cord 64 to release the latching device 62 and allow the propeller to be swung into horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 3 (where the wrench is still on the anchor means), as is most convenient for transporting the propeller on a truck to the workshop for service.

Usually the servicing apparatus is removed from the propeller while it is being serviced. After the servicing has been completed, the anchar means'of' the-servicing apparatus is reattacne'cl' to the propeller hub' (or blade-sockets and the. :appartus and propeller are carried back to the airplane. Before attempting to remount the .propellerfon its shaft, it .is most convenient to position the wrench on the horizontally "disposed anchor means, secure the fastening devices IE and I6, lift the servicing apparatus and propeller free 'of the transporting means, swing the propellerinto vertical position, lock the gpivotally connected parts of thelservioing apparatus against relative movement :and'thenslip the propeller, with attached servicing apparatus and wrench, into :position on the motor shaft. The wrench is then employed to tighten the nut or nuts w iich hold the propeller 'on its shaft. Finally the anchor means :is disconnected -from thereplacedipropeller.

From the foregoing description, -it will be apparent that the-servicing apparatus of our :in-

vention comprises a rigidyokewconsisting" 'of the arms :28 andsconnecting :piece 2i which may he termed an outer'yo'ke, and-a second rigid yoke consisting :of th'ezlitt arms .lii'and intermediate anohornieans 4-5 which maybe termed an'inner yoke in the sense that it is movable between the cearms so'f the'outerwoke. The innerand 'outer'syolre members are ;pivotally connected together2at=23zas heretofore explained, and the relationship'.b'etrveenthe/pivotal connection and thatzpart of atheanchor means It which is fas- *tened to the propell'er hub such that the-axis of the ipivotal connection :intersect :the .center 'of gravity or the :propeller. This arrangement insures effioient'hanclling of the propeller with aminimum ofeifort;

The dual functi'on-o'fthe anchor means as anchor means, 1361"56,.'0121S i-part'of the inner yoke is another important :ieature @ofour invention.

Heretofore the "services of ta number of 'workoutput gear :6 9' are roftzsuch dimensions :that' the :operator o'f the wrench can'iput hishand through the hollow socketand :place a locking mechanism in-the propellernut without removing either B the wrench or .the socket which extends through the anchor opening into contact with the work. This snakes our apparatus especially suitable =for servioingai-rplane propellers.

"Changes" may be *made in the form and dimensions of ourapparatus, and in detailsoi-construotion, without departing from the scope of our invention a s-defined by the appended claims.

Weclaim:

.A wrench rfor use with an airplane propeller wherein the hub thereof is secured to a motor shaft ibvmeans of a nut accessible from an end of the hub, and wherein-an anchor member is detaohably secured to said hub and provided with" a cylindrical walled opening coaxial with and through which said nut is accessible; said wrench comprising :a housing for support :on said anchor member and being provided with means for releasably securing the same tothe anchor :member, an elongated cylindrical socket member extending through said housing and bein extendable through said opening in said anchor member and having :means on one end thereof for rotatable locking engagement with the nut,

and power :means in-said housing .for rotating said socket member with a corresponding rotation'of the nut.

72. mhestruotureaccording-to claim .1 wherein 'sa'idn socket member -is provided with open oppozsite ends for access to thenuttherethrough.

JOHN FF. SWEENEY.

EDWARD T. ABLE.

,IRWINVA. MACKAY.

References Cited in the like of this patent UNITED f STAEUES :PATENTS .Number Name Date 11042736 'Wildmo' Oct. 29, 1912 1,150,173 Dieiendorf Aug. 17., 1915 "1324,405 .Morg'an' Dec. '9, 1 19 1,324,704 Vose .'Dec. 9, 1919 1,468,334 "Ihomason Sept. 18)1923 119631202 Hume June '19, "1934 2',1'72', 272 Booth Sept. 5, 1939 2,235,953 "Whitfield Mar. '25, 1941 2334],660 Knight Jan-20, 1948 2359;872 Morsoh Jan. '18, 1949 24611983 Jarrett 1Feb.' 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Coun'try Date 3691040 'Great'Bi'itain Mar. -17, 1932 

